Outdoor receptacle for newspapers and the like



Aug. 2, 1966 F. P. KUCKA ETAL 3,253,905

OUTDOOR RECEPTACLE FOR NEWSPAPERS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 10, 1964 INVENTORS FRANK F! KucKn BY MICHAEL J. KucKn /4 501v, SETTLE z Ckfi/G HTTORNE Y5 United States Patent 3,263,905 OUTDOOR RECEPTACLE FOR NEWSPAPERS AND THE LIKE Frank P. Kucka and Michael J. Kucka, both of 25141 Riverdale, Dearborn, Mich. Filed Feb. 10, 1964. Ser. No. 343,580 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-93) One of the principal shortcomings of such prior art receptacles is that they are opaque, thus necessitating a trip out to the receptacle to find out whether or not there is anything in it. Additionally, such receptacles are relatively bulky and the retailing thereof involves relatively high packaging and storage costs.

These problems are solved by the present invention in the provision of a transparent receptacle which is assembled from a flat, flexible plastic sheet. The flat sheet considerably reduces the storage bulk and thus involves a saving in terms of storage and packaging.

It is an object of our invention to provide a transparent outdoor receptacle for newspapers and the like which is assembled from a flat sheet of plastic material.

Another object of our invention is to provide a blank for assembly into a receptacle, the blank having a configuration such that when it is formed into a tube shape each end of the tube has an upper portion which serves as a rain shield and a cut-away lower portion which prevents rain from collecting and entering the receptacle.

A still further object of our invention is to utilize a plastic material having a surface characteristic causing adherence to paper thus tending to retain articles therewithin.

Another object of our invention is to provide a blank for forming the receptacle, the blank having two opposite edges adapted to overlap when the blank is formed into a tubular receptacle, the overlapping edges having registering openings for the reception of mounting screws, the overlapping edge portions providing approximately double-strength at the point of mounting to withstand the relatively high stresses involved in supporting the receptacle when a load or other force is applied thereagainst,

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding par-ts in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank forming one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG- URE 1 formed into a tubular shape preparatory to mounting;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the FIGURE 2 receptacle mounted on a suitable support structure, an end portion of the receptacle being broken away for the purpose of clarity; and

FIGURE 4 is an end view similar to FIGURE 3 with an illustrative newspaper inserted therein.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that the blank 10 is generally rectangular having oppositely disposed straight edges 12, 14 which are adapted to overlap to form the tubular shape illustrated in FIGURE 2. A pair of spaced-apart openings 16, 18, 20, 22 are provided in the blank 10 spaced inwardly from the edges 12, 14.

The edges which form the ends of the receptacle comprise first elongated straight portions 24, 26 which are approximately at right angles to the edge 12. The portions 24, 26 extend to a point about midway between the edges 12, 14 and edge portions 28, 30 extend from the terminous thereof inwardly towards the center of the blank 10. The edge portions 28, 30 terminate a short distance from the openings 20, 22. Edge portions 32, 34 then extend straight outwardly and terminate at a point in line with the edge portions 24, 26. Finally, straight edge portions 36, 38 extend from the edge portions 32, 34 to the edge 14. It will be appreciated that the edge portions 28, 32 and 30, 34 define a V-shaped cutout.

The blank 10 is fabricated from a sheet of clear, transparent plastic material. Acetate has been found to be suit-able for this purpose. Acetate has the desirable property of being flexible to permit ready formation into the tube illustrated in FIGURE 2. Additionally, acetate tends to adhere or grab paper to thus hold articles within the receptacle. Acetate is also relatively strong and does not fracture easily.

Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the blank 10 has been rolled into the shape of a tubular receptacle. The openings :16, 118, 20, 22 are placed in registry. It will be noted that marginal portions of the blank overlap to form a'double thickness. The thus formed receptacle is secured to a suitable support 40 as illustrated in FIGURE 3 by means of screws 42 which extend through the openings 16,18, 20, 22. A washer 44 is provided to prevent concentration of pressure at the head of the screw.

As will be noted in FIGURE 4, when a rolled newspaper 46 is inserted into the receptacle, it expands and contacts the inner surface of the receptacle. The receptacle surf-ace, :being of an adherent nature, frictionally engages the newspaper to hold it in place. Thus, the newspaper will not be blown out of the receptacle by wind currents.

It will be noted that when the blank 10 is rolled in the shape as shown in FIGURE 2, the inwardly inclined edge portions '28, 30 are located on the underside thereof while the straight edge portions 24, v26 are positioned in the upper portions thereof. The straight edge portions 24, 26 terminate at 48 which is approximately the vertical center of the receptacle periphery. As a result of this configuration, the upper end portions of the formed receptacle extend horizontally beyond the lower end portions to thus serve as a rain shield. If the rain is falling at an angle, it will still miss thelower edge portion 28, 30 and will thus not collect in the receptacle. It will also be noted that the edge portions 28, 30 extend from the point 48 to thus provide a path for water to run off the receptacle ends. If the undercut portion were a square notch, there would be a tendency for water to follow a path along the inner surface of the receptacle and thus collect within the receptacle.

While we have described our receptacle in terms of use in connection with newspapers, it will be appreciated that the receptacle may equally be used for small packages or the like. Additionally, when mounting the receptacle, it may be set at an angle to the horizontal so that any Water which collects therein will drain therefrom.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A blank for forming into a tubular receptacle, said blank being fabricated of a sheet of flexible, transparent plastic material and having firstoppositely disposed marginal portions for overlapping when the blank is rolled into a tubular shape, said first marginal portions each having spaced openings therethrough which register when the first marginal portions are overlapped for the reception of mounting means, second oppositely disposed marginal edges forming the ends of the receptacle when the blank is rolled into a tubular shape, said second marginal edges each including a first elongated relatively straight portion and a second substantially V-shaped portion, the first relatively straight portions forming the upper end. edges of the tubular receptacle and the second V-shaped portions forming undercut portions beneath said upper edges. 7

2. A blank for forming into a tubular receptacle, said blank having a generally rectangular shape and being fabricated of a sheet of flexible, transparent plastic material, said blank having first oppositely disposed marginal portions for overlapping when the blank is rolled into a tubular shape, said first marginal portions each having spaced openings therethrough which register when the first marginal portions are overlapped for the reception of mounting means, second oppositely disposed marginal edges forming the ends of the receptacle when the blank is rolled into a tubular shape, said second marginal edges each including a first elongated relatively straight portion and a second portion angled inwardly from the first portion towards the center of the blank, said first relatively straight portions forming the upper end edges of the rolled tubular receptacle with the second portions extending inwardly therefrom to form undercut portions beneath the upper end edges.

3. A blank for forming into a tubular receptacle, said blank being fabricated of a flexible, transparent plastic material and having first oppositely disposed marginal portions for overlapping when the blank is rolled into a tubular shape, said first marginal portions each having spaced openings theret'hrough which register when the first marginal portions are overlapped for the reception of mounting means, second oppositely disposed marginal edges forming the ends of the receptacle when the blank is rolled into a tubular shape, the second marginal edges each including a first elongated relatively straight portion extending from one of the first marginal portions toward the other first marginal portion, said second marginal edge having a second angled portion extending from said first elongated portion and being angled in wardly toward the center of the blank and terminating short of the other first marginal portion, a third portion extending from said second angled portion outwardly from the center portion of the blank, and a fourth portion extending from the third portion to the other first marginal portion, said first elongated portions forming the upper end edges of the roller tubular receptacle with the second angled portions extending from approximately the midpoint of the periphery of the rolled receptacle to form undercut portions beneath said upper end edges.

4. A tubular receptacle formed of a blank, said blank being fabricated of a sheet of flexible, transparent plastic material, said blank being rolled into a tubular shape and having first oppositely disposed marginal portions which overlap, said first marginal portions each having I spaced openings therethrough in registry for the reception of mounting means, mounting means inserted through said registering openings, the ends of the tubular receptacle being formed of second oppositely disposed marginal edges of the blank, said second marginal edges each including a first elongated relatively straight portion and a second substantially V-shaped portion, the

first relatively straight portion forming the upper end edges of the tubular receptacle and the sec-ond V-shaped portions forming undercut portions beneath said upper DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Examiner.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. 

4. A TUBULAR RECEPTACLE FORMED OF A BLANK, SAID BLANK BEING FABRICATED OF A SHEET OF FLEXIBLE, TRANSPARENT PLASTIC MATERIAL, SAID BLANK BEING ROLLED INTO A TUBULAR SHAPE AND HAVING FIRST OPPOSITELY DISPOSED MARGINAL PORTIONS WHICH OVERLAP, SAID FIRST MARGINAL PORTIONS EACH HAVING SPACED OPENINGS THERETHROUGH IN REGISTRY FOR THE RECEPTION OF MOUNTING MEANS, MOUNTING MEANS INSERTED THROUGH SAID REGISTERING OPENINGS, THE ENDS OF THE TUBULAR RECEPTACLE BEING FORMED OF SECOND OPPOSITELY DISPOSED MARGINAL EDGES OF THE BLANK, SAID SECOND MARGINAL EDGES EACH INCLUDING A FIRST ELONGATED RELATIVELY STRAIGHT PORTION AND A SECOND SUBSTANTIALLY V-SHAPED PORTION, THE FIRST RELATIVELY STRAIGHT PORTION FORMING THE UPPER END EDGES OF THE TUBULAR RECEPTACLE AND THE SECOND V-SHAPED PORTIONS FORMING UNDERCUT PORTION BENEATH SAID UPPER EDGES. 